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Spoilers below forNarcos: Mexico.
Im still trying to understand how to talk about this project, he says.
The series tracks the ruthless trafficker known as El Padrino (a.k.a.
Youve said theNarcos: Mexicocast is the dream team of the Mexican film industry.
After what happened, it was more important to do the series.
First of all, it happened way before I was even hired.
It was when they were prepping.
I read the news and it was horrible to read that had happened in my country.
That it was so close, because [Carlos Munoz Portal] was well-known in the industry.
Were all a family, and the news hit me as it hit everyone doing cinema in Mexico.
But what happened to him wasnt related to the making of the series.
You have to understand that in the last 12 years, there have beenmore than 250,000 people killed.
I truly believe that this violence is not our violence.
This is the violence of a strategy that is busted around the world on the war on drugs.
Youve said you chose not to interview people about Felix, instead reading books and watching documentaries.
What did you decide his motivation was?
Is he a megalomaniac?[Laughs.]
He wants to be seen as a businessman.
He wants to belong to a part of society that he doesnt belong to.
I think thats what motivates him.
This guy left his hometown behind and moved to Guadalajara to build his empire.
He bought a hotel, a restaurant that sector that also involved the politicians who had power in Mexico.
He wanted to belong to that community, I think.
He worked closely with the governor [of Sinaloa].
That disapproval seems to motivate him even more.Thats when its not anymore about pleasing the father.
I think that moment is very important for the character psychologically.
The loss of his father is the crucial moment for him becoming a man.
Hes gonna show his dad and everyone else around thats not true.
Did he really send the governor his sons severed head?You mean in real life?
Its a moment where we remind people that were doing a fiction.
Did Rafa really create sinsemilla and kidnap the minister of educations daughter?
And many things, we dont know.
The main thing is that in the series, the bad guys are always the drug guys.
Who knows if well ever [get answers] because of how fucked-up the system is.
Thats a reflection on what Mexico is as a country a country where justice means something different.
When Felix goes to Colombia and hes kidnapped by Pablo Escobar, did that happen?
He does an amazing impersonation of Pablo or, ofhisPablo.
Did Pablo really kidnap Felix?[Laughs.]
These are questions I cannot answer.
Youre gonna have to investigate yourself.
Thats exactly why that first screen is [a disclaimer].
If I tell you itdidhappen, then the next thing is, it didnt exactly happen that way.
So basically, there is an intention of the writers to use real information.
Lets talk about your big emotional scene with Michael Pena in the final episode.
Was it done it at the end of the shoot?We were so ready for that moment.
We spent months getting to know those characters.
For me, it was difficult to adjust to the rhythm of TV.
But by the end, I was feeling so sure of who my character was.
Its a big turn for Mexican history in many ways, because that moment changed everything.
Its also a big turn for Felix because hes never gonna feel free again.
Even though he had taken many lives by then, this one was gonna haunt him forever.
Whats the significance of the paintingin Felixs office?
Its like imposing something youre not [on yourself].
El Chapo, who got his start with Felix, justwent on trial in New York City.
Have you thought about any of them seeing this?No, I never thought about them seeing it.
Ive been always more focused on theotheraudience the audience that doesnt know who they are.
I was 6 years old when the Kiki Camarena case happened.
I was there in the 90s when the nightmare started to happen.
The violence erupted, and I kind of understand how we got to where we are.
But younger generations that live now in Mexico, they dont get it.
They dont get how things got this bad.
Its for them that we did the series.
To be honest, Im more interested in the reaction outside of Mexico.
We are experiencing this violence every day.
It sounds like you feel a personal responsibility.I do, because I go back on Monday.
Thats where I live, thats where my family is.
Thats where my kids are.
And I wake up in that country that needs such an urgent change.
This interview has been edited and condensed.
